Package for pencil leads



March 20, 1934. s. c. BOA ET AL PACKAGE FOR PENCIL LEADS Filed April 29. 1932 Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,951, 57 PACKAGE FOR PENCIL LEADS George C. Boa and Ernest E. Hill, Chicago, Ill.,' assignors to Rite-Rite Mfg. 00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 29, 1932, Serial No. 608,166

1 Claim. (01. 206-46) This invention relates to a novel and improved package for pencil leads and the like, particularly those designed for use in mechanical pencils, and consists of the matters hereinafter described and 5 more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In packages of the kind heretofore made, separate compartments are provided for each of the several contained leads, each compartment being in the form of a narrow channel or groove of the length, width and depth to receive and confine the lead so that it will not break when the package is jarred or dropped. The leads are removable from the package laterally through the open sides of the channels, which are all uncovered when the package is open. As a result, it is difiicult to remove a single lead, as by turning the package upside down to permit the lead to drop into the palm of the hand, without dislodging all the leads in the package at the same time.

The object of our invention is to provide a package of simple and economical construction to be made at small cost, designed to contain a plurality of pencil leads disposed side by side in a single compartment or disposed severally in channels or compartments and so confined therein that a single lead may be removed, leaving the remaining leads in the compartment, or, if there is a compartment for each lead, leaving the leads in their respective compartments.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully as we proceed with our specification.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved package.

Figure 2 is a view on an exaggerated scale showing a part of the package in sectional perspective-the section being taken in a transverse plane intermediate the ends of the package.

Figure 3 is a perspective view on an exaggerated scale of one end of the package showing it open and ready for the removal of a lead.

Figure 4 is a view representing a longitudinal section through the package.

Figure 5 is a transverse view of a modified form of the package.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, and particularly in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, 10 indicates the body of the package. Said body consists of an elongated flat block of any suitable material, preferably of wood. It has marginal upstanding ribs 11, 11 extending the length of the block. At the bases of said ribs and in a common plane opposed to each other, there are formed grooves 12, 12 extending the length of the block and opening at the ends thereof.

Below the plane of the grooves 12 and between the ribs 11, 11, are located the compartment, or B0 compartments to receive the leads. The same are provided, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, by laterally spaced, parallel grooves 13 which extend the length of the block and open through an end, as shown, and preferably through both ends thereof. Said grooves are each of suiiicient width and depth to receive one of the leads to be contained in the package. 14 indicates a cover plate. This is made of light flexible sheet metal and is of such width as to engage in the .79 grooves 12, 12 of the ribs 11. The cover plate has at its ends, extensions 15 which project at each end beyond the block. The cover plate is of such material or so constructed adjacent the ends that said extensions are adapted to be bent downwardly against the ends of the block to close the open ends of the compartment or compartments contained in the block. By bending up an extension 15 at one end of the block, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, the comparts0 ment or compartments containing the leads Will U be exposed at one end, and by slightly inclining the package, the lead or leads contained in the package may be allowed to drop by gravity to expose parts of their length. A lead may then 35 be grasped and withdrawn and the other lead or leads returned to the package by upending the same. By bending the extension 15 back against the end of the block, the leads remaining in the package will be again enclosed.

In order to prevent splitting of the wood body at the end of the package in the plane of the grooves 12, when one of the extensions 15 is bent upwardly to remove a lead, notches 15a, 15a, are provided in the sides of the cover plate 14 in line with the fold line on which said extensions are designed to be bent, thus weakening the metal along that line. To facilitate the bending upward of one of the extensions 15, the bottom edges of the ends of the block are cut away or beveled, as indicated at 16, leaving spaces back of the extensions 15 for convenience in engaging the thumb nail or some instrument back of the extension 15 when bending it up to uncover the lead compartment, or compartments of the package.

Instead of providing several compartments for the several leads, the package may also be made with a single compartment occupying the space between the ribs 11. Such construction is shown 6110 in Figure 5 where like parts have the same numerals as heretofore provided, with the superfix a. 13a indicates the single compartment containing a plurality of leads.

To load the package, an extension 15 is folded up into the plane of the cover plate 14, whereupon the leads may be inserted from that end. Or the cover plate may be made slidable in the grooves 12 when its extensions are in the same plane with it, so that it may be withdrawn longitudinally from the grooves 12, 12 in the block. This exposes the open side or sides of the compartment or compartments which may then be loaded with the leads. The cover plate is then inserted into the grooves and pushed endwise of the block until the extensions at the ends are in proper location. They are then turned down into the positions indicated in Figure 4, which completes the loading.

The cover plae, being of metal, may be lithographed or otherwise conveniently treated, to

a cover plate of thin sheet metal engaged in said grooves to close the top open side of said compartment, said cover plate having extensions projecting beyond the ends of the block, said extensions being bendable to close or expose the open ends of said compartment, and said block being cut away at its ends to leave a space back of said extensions when the extensions are in closed relation to the ends of said compartment.

GEORGE C. BOA. ERNEST E. HILL. 

